cummins



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

P. 1-1. OUMMINS.

WHEELBARRO-W.

No. 307,020. Patented 001;. 21,1884;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. H. OUMMINS.

WHEBLBARBOW.

(No' Model.)

No. 307,020. 0 Patented 001:. 21

Z mm A toriwy UNITE STATES PATENT Orricn. 1

PATRICK HENRY GUMMINS, or AMSTERDAM, NEW YORK.

QWHEELBARRQW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,020, dated October21, 1884.

Application filed May 21, 1884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK H. GUMirINs, of Amsterdam, in the county ofMontgomery and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in \Vheelbarrows; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form part of this specification. My inventionrelates to wheelbarrows, the object being to provide a barrow withtrussbraces and tension devices to add strength and durabilityto thebarrow-frame.

A further object of the invention is to substitute for the ordinaryrigid legs of a wheelbarrow pivoted segments adapted to permit a forwardmovement of the barrow in passing obstructions, as will be fullydescribed hereinafter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a yielding connectionfor the barrowframe and the wheel-shaft.

The invention consists in the combination, with a barrow-frame, oftransverse and longitudinal truss-braces and means for imparting atension or strain to said braces to securely hold the parts of the frametogether.

The invention further consists in the combination, with awheelbarrow-frame, of piv oted segmental supports in rear of the wheelof the barrow.

My invention also includes certain features of construction andcombinations of parts, as fully described hereinafter, and pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of a wheelbarrow-frame havingmy improve ments applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a reverse plan view of thesame, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section, andFigs. 4, 5, G, and 7 illustrate parts in detail.

The frame of the barrow consists of side bars, A A, havinghandle-extensions a a and cross-braces a. The forward ends of the sidebars, A A, are provided on their under sides with spring-plates B B,whose rear ends are secured to the bars A A, while their forward endsare bent slightly downward and formed with openings 1) b, to receive theheads (Z of lugs D, formed upon sleeve-bearings E, which (X0 model.)

receive the shaft or axle F of the barrowwlieel G.

H H represent elastic washers interposed between the sleeves E andplates D. The barrow-wheel G- may be of any preferred form, and securedupon its axle in any suitable manner.

It will be apparent from the description thus far that the spring-platesB B and the elastic washers H H afford'a yielding connection between thewheel-axle and the barrowframc, thus preventing undue jarring of theload upon the barrow when passing obstructions. The ends of thecross-bars a" a are mortised into the bars A.

Below each of the cross-bars a is secured a truss-brace, I, preferablyof wire. The ends of these braces are secured to the under sides of thebars A. Each of said cross-bars a is provided with a threaded bolt, J,extending from the under sides of the bar at the center through thelatter, and formed with a recessed head, j, to engage the'truss-braccsI. Upon each of these bolts J is arranged a nut, j. It is obvious thatthe tension of the truss-braces may be regulated by these nuts.

In addition to the function of drawing the side bars of the frametogether and bracing them; the employment of these truss-rods adds tothe strength of the barrow-frame by avoiding the tenoning of the ends ofthe crossbars and the formation of through-openings in the side bars,which necessarily weaken those parts.

K K represent diagonal truss-rods, secured, preferably, to the undersides of the bars A A, as shown, and crossing each other at theircenters, where they rest in the recess of the bolthead of the centralC1OSS-l32tl,(t'. These diag- 9o onally-arranged rods serve to brace theframe longitudinally, and may be tensioned by the nut of the bolt on thecentral cross-bar, as already described.

At about the center of each side bar, A, and 5 on their under sides, Iform a countersink, L, to receive the upper end of a threaded rod, Z,formed with a collar or flange, Z. This rod receives a screw-threadedsleeve, N, into whose lower end projects a rod, N, made integral with ablock, M, formed with parallel depending ears in m, braced together by abrace, m.

The ears in of the blocks M are perforated to receive screw-threadedbolts 0 O,whose inner ends project into the interiorly-threaded ends ofa hollow rod, 1?. These bolts 0 serve as axlebearings for the segments RR. The latter may be of any form preferred but I have shown themconsisting of the segmental fellies r 1- and spokes r r and r r Thespokes rr are formed of a single piece of metal bent upon itself to formthe spokes, and looped to form the hub 0 which is supported upon thebolt 0 between the ears mm. The spokes 1' and hub a are similarly formedto those above referred to; but the hub r" is mounted upon the bolt 0,on the inner side of the'ears m m.

S Sv represent spiral springs whose upper ends are secured to the sidebars of the frame, while their lower ends are secured to the frontspokes of the segments to limit the movement of and retract the latter.

T T represent longitudinal truss-rods, secured one to the under side ofeach of the side bars, A, and looped around lugst t, projecting from theblock M between the ears m m, as shown. These truss-rods T are tensionedby turning the sleeve N.

U U represent stop-blocks secured upon the truss-rods T by staples oreyes a, and recessed at their upper ends to fit against the side bars,A, while their lower ends rest in the plane of the movement of thesegments, so that thelatter will abut against them to limit theirmovement. The segmental supports thus described will materially assistthe barrow in passing obstructions. lVhen the weight is thrown onto thesaid supports by the upward tilting of the front of the barrow, thelatter may be given a forward movement to ride the wheel over theobstruction.

V V represent crossed diagonal brace-rods whose upper ends are securedto the side bars, A, while their lower ends are respectively'securedupon screws or lugs c o of theblocks M.

It will be apparent that many slight altera tions may be resorted to inthe details of con struction of my improvement; hence I do not limitmyself to the exact construction hercin shown and described, but reservemyself the right to make all such alterations and modifications as mayproperly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, I claim as new the following: i

1 The combination, with a wheelbarrowframe, of truss-braces of thecentral cross-bar, a, and a threaded bolt, J, having a recessed headengaging with said braces and provided with a nut, substantially as andfor the purposes described.

2. The combinatiomwith a wheelbarrow, of transverse and longitudinaltruss-braces and tension bolts and nuts, said bolts having recessedheads, substantially as described.

in. The combination, with the forward ends of the side bars of thebarrow-frame, of spring- 6 5 plates having openings, as described,sleevebearings for the wheel-shaft, and elasticwashers, substantially asset forth.

4. The combination, with the frame of a wheelbarrow, of segmentalsupports arranged in rear of the barrow-wheel, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination, with the frame of a wheelbarrow, of pivotedsegmental supports and retracting-springs, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the frame of a wheelbarrow, of pivotedsegmental supports provided with retracting-springs and stop devices,substantially as described.

7. The combination,with the side bars of the frame, formed withcountersinks 011 their under sides, of bolts entering said countersinks,sleeves arranged on said bolts, blocks formed with arms to enter saidsleeves, and with per- 85 forated ears, segmental supports mounted up onbolt-journals having bearings in said ears and connected by a hollowthreaded rod, and longitudinal truss-rods, substantially in the mannerand for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK HENRY CUMMINS.

Vitnesses:

HENRY MoNrnL, M. EMPLE.

